Haiti Pitches a Ritzy Oasis on an Island of Misfortune

Nation Needs $350 Million to Develop 16-Mile Stretch

The Haitian government is seeking partners for a seemingly daunting task: building a world-class resort destination in one of the world's poorest countries.

This nation of 10 million people has chosen a 16-mile stretch of largely unoccupied beachfront on the country's southern coast, known as Côté de Fer, on which to build. Haiti's Ministry of Tourism estimates it will need up to $350 million in private investment to develop the area, including infrastructure such as utilities, a sewer system and roads.